Can the revamped Dallas Cowboys defense shock the NFL?
Players Acquired
Let’s look at this group starting with the first day of free agency on March 18th. Usually, owner Jerry Jones stays put and opts to sign players later on. Right when you thought the Cowboys wouldn’t sign anyone on day one, they grabbed defensive tackle, Gerald McCoy.
The veteran was a huge piece to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense, making six Pro Bowls and was a first-team All-Pro once. Last season he was with the Carolina Panthers on a one-year deal and had decent numbers.
Unfortunately for them, he tore his quad tendon and will miss the entire season. I guess nothing too good is allowed to happen to the Cowboys.
The next day, safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix was signed. The stud safety is a nice hybrid that can help out teammate Xavier Woods up top but can also drop down and stop the run. While he only made one Pro Bowl in his career, his play shows he is an impact safety.
One and a half weeks after signing McCoy, Dallas picked up his teammate from the Panthers in defensive tackle Dontari Poe. He is a run-stuffer whose play forces opposing running backs to make tough decisions. You can either get knocked out by 350 pounds or run into someone else.
After missing four seasons due to suspension, former first-team All-Pro defensive end Aldon Smith is making his return. While it’s hard to tell how effective he will be after missing that much time, a cheap contract and a depth spot is a very low-risk, high-reward situation.
Then came the NFL draft, and the Cowboys were sure to impress with their picks here. The biggest defensive name they grabbed was cornerback Trevon Diggs. He switched from wide receiver to cornerback at Alabama, and never looked back.
Dallas was debating if they should pick Diggs or defensive tackle Neville Gallimore in the second. When Gallimore was still available in the third they didn’t think twice. They got an athletic interior lineman that may have a role in the Cowboys defense this season.
In the fourth round, they were able to acquire a cornerback with a large frame for his position but has limited experience. The product of Tulsa, Reggie Robinson II, led all cornerbacks with a rank of an 89 overall draft score for NFL.com’s Next Gen stats.
After getting a steal along the defensive line in the third, they picked a high motor in defensive end Bradlee Anae. While he may not make an immediate impact in year-one, he has the intangibles to develop into a great player.
The newest acquisition for the Cowboys defensive line is a defensive end in Everson Griffen. The soon-to-be 33-year-old just made his fourth Pro Bowl last season. He has not missed a beat since making his first Pro Bowl back in 2015.